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Provo » The BYU Cougars will go into game week -- they begin Washington-focused practices Thursday -- without having said which quarterback, Jake Heaps or Riley Nelson , will get the first snap Sept. 4 when the Huskies roll into LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall was given two chances to provide a hint after fall camp ended Wednesday with a 40-play scrimmage that featured mostly second- and third-string players, but sidestepped both questions.
Asked if anything changed in his mind after Heaps had a better day than Nelson, and got more chances to shine, Mendenhall replied, "Nope, it is just the same" as after Saturday's scrimmage when he said the two were "dead-even."
OK, but Heaps got four series of work, while Nelson got two. Does that mean he's leaning one particular way?
"Nope, I'm not," he said.
Both quarterbacks got a chance to begin a series in the red zone, and both delivered touchdowns. Against the ones, Nelson engineered a six-play drive that featured just one pass, and culminated with Bryan Kariya 's TD plunge.
Facing the twos, Heaps was in a third-and-23 situation after a sack by Zac Stout , but threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Rhen Brown , a beautifully thrown ball that hit Brown in stride.
For the day, Heaps was 11 for 16 for 134 yards and two TDs. Nelson was 4 for 5 for 55 yards, but was intercepted once -- by linebacker Brandon Ogletree .
Receiver earns rave review
Brown, a sophomore from Lone Peak High, took advantage of redshirt freshman Cody Hoffman 's inaction due to a hamstring strain to conclude camp with several outstanding scrimmages. Mendenhall has said that Hoffman is No. 4 on the depth chart at receiver behind O'Neill Chambers , Luke Ashworth and McKay Jacobson . But Brown might be playing himself into the picture, too.
"Rhen is doing a nice job. He has already been included on most of the special teams, so I anticipate him traveling, at least for special teams purposes," Mendenhall said. "Whether he plays on offense or not, that will remain to be seen. I think he has certainly made it on the airplane."
Briefly
Tight end Marcus Mathews made the play of the day, snagging a 22-yarder with one hand while absorbing a hit and hanging on to the ball. ... Defensive coordinator Jaime Hill said juco transfer DeQuan Everett will likely redshirt this season.
QB battle unsettled as camp ends
What we learned » BYU coaches used a scrimmage Wednesday to identify which players will make the travel squad, which will be asked to take redshirt years, and which could play backup roles.
Who was hot » Jake Heaps completed 11 of 16 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Who was sidelined » There were no new significant injuries.
Up next » Wednesday's scrimmage concluded fall camp. The Cougars will hold a closed practice Thursday afternoon and begin preparations for Washington.